By JAMES KUNDA –

GOVERNMENT is concerned with the low turnout of people during the now closed receipt of submissions on the proposed amendment to the Public Order Act in the previous sitting of Parliament.
Home Affairs permanent secretary Chileshe Mulenga said in an interview yesterday that only one individual approached his Ministry with a suggestion that the notification period of police ahead of a public meeting be reduced from seven to five days.
Dr Mulenga said the named individual made the submission in his capacity as an opposition political party Member of Parliament before the House was dissolved last month.
“It is surprising that out of many individuals and institutions that were calling for the review of the Public Order Act, only one person turned up with a suggestion when Government called for submissions towards  the amendment of the Law.
“It, therefore, became apparent that people were happy with the Public Order Act in its current form, thus the only amendment was the reduction in the notification period of police before holding a public meeting,” Dr Mulenga said.
Dr Mulenga said Government was steadfast in its position that the Act was a good Law as public order was essential to the preservation of national peace and tranquillity.
He said it was not Government’s wish to habitually amend the POA. These political parties, the Church and Non-Governmental Orgnaisations (NGO’s) should have taken advantage of the opportunity to make tangible submissions for a one-off amendment.
“The Public Order Act applies to every individual and institution, thus, it was the expectation of Government that the Church, political parties and the NGO’s would all turn up to make submissions on the amendment of the Law.
“But as this was not the case, Cabinet resolved that the only amendment to the Law be the one to do with the adjustment in the time frame within which police should be notified prior to a public meeting,” he said.